Brick cutting and delivering apparatus.



No. 720,751. PATENTED PEB.17, 190 3. A. P. STEELE.

BRICK CUTTING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 1'33. 5, 1902. no MODEL. 2 BHEBTMBHEET 1.

W i VENTO8 *6 5? m 00% A ltomey TNE NORRI$ mas comHcTa-Lrmm. wnsummuu.u, s,

NII. 720,751. PATENTED PBB.17, 190s.

' A. P. STEELE.

. BRICK CUTTING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS.

A-IPLIOATION FILED PEG. 5, 1902.

7 N0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES ALTENT' OFFICE.

ALEXIS PRESTON STEELE, OF STATESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.

BRICK CUTTING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 720,751, dated February17, 1903. Application filed. February 5, 1902. $91311 N0- g2l7 37. (Nomodel.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXTS PRESTON- have invented certain new and usefulIm-. provements in Brick Cutting and Delivering Apparatus; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same;

My invention relates to an improved brick cutting and deliveringmachine, the object of the invention being to provide improvements ofthis character which will continuously sever a bar into brick lengthsand so construct and operate the cutter as to insure the cutting of thebar at a perfect right angle or any angle or curve desired.

A further object is to provide improved conveying mechanism for rapidlytaking the bricks away from the cutter, permitting the escape of thecutter, and for convenience in handling the bricks.

A further object is to provide an improved cutter for a machine of thischaracter and provide irregular gearing or other improved mechanism tooperate the same.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novelfeatures of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, aswill be more fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View in side elevation,partly broken away, illustrating my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan viewof a portion thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view illustrating thegearing. Figs. 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are enlarged views illustratingvarious details of construction, and Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view.

1 represents the bed-plate and frame of the cutting-table, at one end ofwhich a feedspout 2 is located and adapted to feed the clay in the formof a continuous bar (indicated by 8) of the width and thickness of thebrick to be formed. The bar 3 is fed to a belt-conveyor (which I termmeasuringbelt) on rollers or pulleys 5 and 6, respectively, the formersecured on a shaft 7 near the center of the frame, as shown, supportedin suitable bearings and projecting at each end beyond the frame toreceive at one end the. pulley 8 and double-end cam 47 and at its otherend drive-gear 9.

On the frame and on opposite sides thereof standards 10 are located andare provided at their upper ends (which project above measuring-belt 4)with alined bearings for a shaft 11,0n which myimproved cutting-reel12is secured, and consists of collars 13, secured on the shaft 11 byset-screws and flanged at their outer faces and recessed, as shown, tocounterseat one of the pairs of springmetal bars 14, arrangedacross eachother and secured together and to the flanged ends of the collars bybolts, as shown, forming at each side four radial spring arms, andradial bracesle are made integral with the flanged portion of collars 13to limit the inward spring movement of arms 14. These arms 14 preferablytaper toward their outer ends and are slit diagonally, as shown in Fig.7, bent upon the dotted lines in said figure, forming triangularspring-lugs 16, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, around which the respectiveends of Wires 17 are passed and twisted upon themselves to secure theends of the wires therein, and owing to the construction of said lugs 16(their inner ends 10 being sharp and at the same time projectingradially inside of the initial position of the wires when resting onshoulders and under tension the wire is compelled to assume a definiteposition) a uniform and non varying position of the wires is assured.These wires extend across the reel from the ends of arms 14, on one sidethereof, to the arms on the opposite side, as shown in Fig. 4, and formcutting mediums to sever the bar 3 into brick lengths when operated bythe drive-gear 9 on shaft 7 meshing with driven gear 18 on shaft 11, andwhen the reel is revolved the wires will cross the path of the bar ofclay and at one place a little. below the same. These gears 9 and 18 arepreferably inclosed in a housing 19 to shield them from dust and dirtand having a suitable door 19 to facilitate access to the gears for thepurpose of lubricating, cleaning, or otherwise giving them attention.

The driven gear 18 is of appreciably greater diameter than drive-gear 9,and said gears are of the peculiar irregular shape shown for the purposeof varying the speed of the cutting-reel 12 to insure the cutting of thebar 3 at an exact right angle, the gear 18 be ng preferably composed offour sections secured together and to the central bearing by bolts orother desired means.

The drive-gear 9 is of two segments, having greatest diameter at one endand inclining to smallest .diameter at its other end, and vice versa,and the two segments at their meeting ends are notched, as shown at 20,to receive correspondingly-shaped teeth 21 on the driven gear 18, whichlatter is composed of four segments ranging from smallest to largestdiameter at their respective ends, and each segment is constructed toexactly mesh with the segments of the drive-gear 9. Hence one completerevolution of the latter revolves the driven gear but one-halfrevolution, and the gears are constructed so that one-half turn of thedrive-gear 9, and consequent quarter-turn of driven gearl8, willcorrespond to one brick length, and as the drive-gear 9 is on thesameshaft 7 as roller 5, carrying conveyer 4, the movements of theconveyor and gears mustbe simultaneous, and as the conveyer is moved bythe bar of clay thereon it will be seen that this motion is communicatedto pulley 8, shaft 7, and gears 9 and 18 to the cutting-reel, so thatthe operation of the cutter is dependent on the movement of the bar, andtherefore the bricks must necessarily be cut into even or uniformlengths, and the pulley 8 and the gears are preferably of just theproper sizes so that a complete revolution of the pulley will justcompensate for two bricks, and a halfrevolution for one brick. Thisproportion may of course be changed as desired; but I prefer that shownand described.

The peculiar varying diameters of gears is necessary to insure thestraight out of the bricks, as the cutting-wires 17 move in the arc ofacircle, and consequently a greater distance than the bar 3 on platform4, as indicated by diagrammatic view Fig. 11, in which the dotted line22 indicates the are through which the cutting-wire moves and the dottedlines 23 divide the distance through which the bar 3 passes from thetime it is engaged by the cutting-wire to the point where the brick iscompletely severed, and it will be plainly seen that the distancethrough which the wire 17 moves between dotted lines 23 is much greaterthan the last half of the cut. 7 Hence a much greater speed must beimparted to the reel during this first part of the cut to move throughthe horizontal plane at the same speed as the bar 3, and by constructingthe gears as above explained this is eifectually accomplished, and thewire (While the speed of the reel is varied from greatest to least fromthe time the wire first begins its out to the completion of the cut)will move horizontally at the same speed as the bar until completelycut, thus insuring a perfect right-angle out.

When the cut is completed, the gears are designed to revolve through anarc of three or four teeth of still gradually-diminishing diameter onthe part of gear 9 and increase of gear 18. This, together with thedistance that the wire goes below the bar of clay, will cause the wireto lag perceptibly behind the movingbar.Thiswillgivethedeliverymechauism time to separate the brick from thebar, so the wire can come through. Then the notched end of gear 9receives the tooth 21 of gear 18, and by reason of the increaseddiameter of gear 9 and corresponding decrease in diameter of gear 18 thewire is enabled to move and gain what was lost in speed due to theaforesaid causes and will come up in front of the advancing bar.

Should it be desired to cut the brick on edge or through a distance ofmore than three and one-half inches, the teeth 21 of gear 18 and notch20 of gear 9 are of such form that their sliding contact (which is theaction of two cams working together) when coming in mesh will controlthe reel and wires as desired to make out until the smaller teeth comeinto mesh.

The drive-shaft 25 of the machine is supported in suitable bearings andhas secured thereon between its ends a beveled gear 26, meshing with abevel-gear 27 on a transverse shaft carrying a large pulley 28 and asmall pulley 29, the former connected with the sanding-roller 30 by abelt 31 and the pulley 29 connected by a belt 32 with the pulley 8, soas to provide auxiliary power to assist in running the gearing andcutting mechanism, as well as the double cams and parts operatedthereby, as the power required to operate these parts might cause thebar of clay to swell, and this auxiliary power is only to aid the bar ofclay to run these several operating mechanisms. It will be observed thatthe sanding-roller 30 and the shaft 7 are driven by belts which receivetheir motion from the same source, and the various pulleys over whichsaid belts pass are so proportioned relatively to each other that thespeed positively imparted to the conveyer 4 will be the same as thespeed imparted to the conveyor by the bar of clay. I provide abelt-tightener 33, which consists of a bar or lever 35, fulcrumed nearor at one end on a pintle 34, projecting from one side of the frame, andsaid lever provided at one end with a roller 35, held against the beltby a weight 36, adjustable on the lever to regulate the tension on thebelt.

A bevel-gear 37 is secured on the end of shaft 25 and meshes with abevel-gear 38 on a lateral shaft carrying a roller or pulley 39 foroperating the deliverybelt 24, which passes around the same. Thisdelivery-belt 24 after passing around roller or pulley 39 extendsforward around a roller or pulley 40, thence again back around a rolleror pulley 41, (in close proximity to the end of measuring-belt 4,) thenforward again and around a roller or pulley 42 at the end of the table,from which pulley the belt passes over an ICC idler 43 to the pulley 39,and similar idle rollers 44 are provided for supporting the weight onthis belt throughout a greater portion of the belt. P

Between the measuring and delivery belts is stationed an idle roller 45,mounted to revolvein suitable journals for the purpose of supporting thepart "of bar projecting beyond measuring-belt untilcompletely severedand carried off bythe delivery-belt when raised to receive the same. i

The pulley or roller 41 is ijournaled in the end of levers 46,fulcrumed'f between their ends on the frame, and the freeends of saidlevers are in the path of double-end cam 47, secured on shaft 7 andproperly disposed so that when said shaft revolves thecams will operateto raise the pulley or rollers 11 and belt 2* thereon to receive a cutbrick and then fall with the brick upon the deliverybelt, and the latterbeing in an approximately horizontal position, and as said belt 2a isgeared to run at a greater speed than belt 4 the bricks willbe spacedapart.

The operation'of myimprovements is as follows: The bar of clay or otherbrick material, is carried by measuring-belt 4 to the cutting;mechanism, which latter, operated by irregular gears 9 and 13, as aboveexplained, serves to revolve the reel 12 "and force the Wires 17 throughthe bar 3 and cut the same into brick lengths. The spring-arms let ofsaid reel are permitted sufficient play to compensate for ordinaryobstructions met by the wires in passing through the bar; but should anobstruction be met which cannot be severed or displaced by the wire thestrengthening-arms 14; will limit the movement of the spring-arms l4 andcompel the wire 17 to break, thus preventing injury to the reel and onlyresulting in a short delay in the operation of the machine, long enoughto place a new wire in position. The bricks after being out are taken bydeliverybelt 24, from which they are removed at convenient places, thereceiving end of this belt being raised and permitted to fall, asheretofore clearly set forth. I A great many changes might be resortedto in the general form and arrangement of the several parts describedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence Iwould have it understood that I do not limit myself to the precisedetails set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such slightchanges and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of myinvention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

II In a brick-cutting machine, the combination of a reel mounted torevolve and carrying several wires to cut a horizontally-moving bar intobrick lengths, and irregular gears substantially as shown and described,for operating said reel.

2.. In a brick-cutting machine, the combination of a reel supportedabove a horizontally-moving bar, wires carried by said reel, and adaptedto be moved through the bar to cut thesame into brick lengths, a drivengear on said reel-shaft composed of four segments of graduallyincreasing or diminishing diameter from end to end, a drive-gear meshingwith said driven gear and composed of two segments of graduallyincreasing or diminishing diameter to. correspond with the segments ofthe driven gear, and means for operating said drive-shaft: 7

3. In a brick-cutting machine, the combination of a reel, wires carriedby said reel adapted to be moved through a moving bar of clay to cut-thesame into brick lengths, a driven gear revoluble with the reel andcomprising a series of segments of gradually increasing or diminishingdiameter from end to end, a drive-gear also composed of a series ofsegments of gradually increasing or diminishing diameter-to mesh withthe segments of the driven gearand means for operating the drive-shaft.

4. As a brick-cutting apparatus, a reel composed of flanged collars,spring-arms secured on said flanged collars and cutting-wires sejeuredto the ends of said spring-arms.

5. As a brick-cutting apparatus, a reel composed of radial arms slit andbent into triangiilar lugs at their ends, to receive the wiressubstantially as and for the'purpose set forth.

6. A cutting apparatus, consisting of a reel composed of parallel radialarms slit and bent substantially as shown and described, into lugs,wires secured at their ends around said lugs, and brace-arms on saidreel to limit the spring movement of the spring-arms.

7. In a brick-cutting apparatus, the combination with an endless belt onwhich a bar of brick material is fed, of a revolving cutter mountedabove the bar and adapted to cut the same into brick lengths, adrive-shaft, variable-speed gearing between said driveshaft and theshaft of the cutter and an oiltight casing inclosing said gearing.

S. Ina brick cutting and delivering apparatus, the combination withameasuring-belt on which the bar of brick material is fed, of a cutternear the discharge end of said measuring-belt to out the bar into bricklengths, a delivering-belt adapted to run at greater speed than themeasuring-belt, and means for moving one end of said de'liveringbeltvertically to take the cut bricks from the measuring-belt.

9. In a-brick cutting and delivering apparatus, the combination with ameasuring-belt on which a bar of brick material is fed, and a cutteradapted to outsaid bar into brick lengths, of a delivering-belt, andmeans for raising said delivering-belt to receive and take the cutbricks from measuring-belt as fast as said bricks are cut and rapidlytake them to a point of discharge.

10. In a brick cutting and delivering apparatus, the combination with ameasuring-belt on which a bar of brick material is fed, and cuttingmechanism above said measuring-belt adapted to cut the bar into bricklengths, of a delivery-belt, a roller or pulley adapted to support thereceiving end of said belt in close proximity to the measuring-belt,levers supporting said roller or pulley and pivoted between their ends,and a cam or cams on the driving-shaft of the measuringbelt, adapted toengage said lever or levers and elevate the end of the delivery-belt andtake the bricks from the measuring-belt, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

11. In a brick cutting and delivering apparatus, the combination of acutting-reel having cutting-Wires at the periphery of said reel, a gearon said reel-shaft, a gear on a drivingshaft meshing therewith, and saidgears shaped substantially as shown and described to continue thedecrease in speed of the reel after a brick is cut and then materiallyincrease the speed of the reel to permit the wire to escape theadvancing bar.

12. In a brick cutting and delivering apparatus, the combination of acutting-reel having cutting-wires at the periphery of said reel, a gearon said reel-shaft, a gear on a drive-shaft meshing therewith and bothof said gears composed of segments of increasing and diminishingdiameters, the cam engagement between the segments to operatesubstantially as set forth.

13. In a brick cutting, separating and delivering apparatus, thecombination with a cutting-reel, of a pair of toothed gearing totransmit motion to said reel, the radius of the driving-gear decreasingwhile the radius of the driven gear increases in relative proportion,during the action of the reel in cutting the bar.

14. In a brick-cutting apparatus, the combination with a conveyer, ofmeans for feeding abar to be out onto said conveyer and moving thelatter to turn a shaft, a cuttingreel to cut the bar into brick lengths,gearing between said reel and shaft operated by the bar moving the conveyer, a pulley on said shaft, a pulley positively driven, a beltconnecting said pulleys to communicate an auxiliary power to the shaftand overcome the strain on the conveyer and prevent slipping, and abelt-tightener or tension device substantially as shown, for said belt.

15. The combination of mechanism on which a bar of brick material isfed, means for cutting the bar into brick lengths, a delivering-belt,and means for lifting one end of said delivering-belt to take thebricks.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

ALEXIS PRESTON STEELE.

Witnesses:

J. H. ROCKWELL, F. A. DUNLAP.

